FORELSKET ( ✔)

33- A Plea for Presence

Taehyung stood with his luggage at the bustling airport, the anticipation of departure evident in his posture. His father, Kim Joon-ho, stood beside him, his eyes fixed on his son with a blend of understanding and concern. Joon-ho's smile, though gentle, carried a weight of knowing that spoke volumes about the complexities of their relationship.

"Taehyung," Joon-ho began, his voice calm but filled with a depth of emotion. "You're always on the move, always running from one place to another. But today, I can't help but wonder—who are you running from?"

Taehyung, his gaze fixed on the ground, shook his head slightly. "I'm not running from anyone," he replied, his voice steady but carrying a hint of weariness.

Joon-ho's eyes softened, and he continued, "Look, my child, there are two types of smiles in life. One is a smile that hides the sorrow within, the kind we learn to wear to mask our pain. The other is a smile that has the power to make all our sorrows fade away, even if just for a moment. The smile you've had since meeting Jungkook—that's the latter."

Taehyung's expression softened, a small, reflective smile touching his lips as he glanced down, his thoughts momentarily drifting to Jungkook.

"What's the use of a love that makes you smile only to later bring tears?" Taehyung's voice carried a tinge of melancholy as he voiced his inner conflict. "I'm not running away from him. I'm simply trying to stop him from chasing me."

Joon-ho placed a reassuring hand on Taehyung's shoulder, the gesture imbued with a father's love and a hint of sadness. "Sometimes," Joon-ho said softly, "running is just a way of finding a different path, one where you can make sense of the journey you're on."

Taehyung looked up, his eyes meeting his father's with a mixture of gratitude and resignation. The weight of their conversation hung in the air as they both stood in the busy terminal, the reality of their parting momentarily overshadowed by the depth of their exchange.

As Taehyung and his father Joon-ho prepared for departure, their moment was abruptly interrupted by a familiar voice calling out.

"Taehyung!"

Taehyung's head snapped around, his eyes widening in shock as he saw Jungkook standing a short distance away, his face flushed and breath coming in ragged gasps. Joon-ho's gaze shifted between the two, sensing the tension that had suddenly thickened the air.

Jungkook closed the distance between them, his eyes reflecting a mixture of pain and determination. He came to a stop in front of Taehyung, the distress evident in his features.

"Are you running away?" Jungkook asked, his voice strained with emotion.

Taehyung's silence spoke volumes as he avoided making eye contact. His eyes were filled with a turbulent mix of emotions, and his silence seemed to weigh heavily on the moment.

Jungkook's voice softened, his tone pleading. "If you wanted to go somewhere, you could have told me. I would have made plans for us."

Hearing Jungkook's words, Taehyung's eyes began to well up with tears. The realization that he was abandoning Jungkook, the person who had brought so much light into his life, was overwhelming. Without a word, Taehyung grasped his luggage tighter and turned to walk away, the weight of his decision evident in his every step.

Jungkook's desperation grew as he reached out, grabbing Taehyung's hand which held the luggage. "Are you running away from me?" Jungkook's voice was laced with a mixture of hurt and desperation.

"I know I might not be able to save you from everything," Jungkook continued, his voice quivering with vulnerability. "But... don't leave me. Just spend this time with me."

Taehyung's resolve began to crumble as he felt the intensity of Jungkook's plea. Tears that he had been desperately holding back began to stream down his face. The sight of Jungkook's raw emotion was too much to bear, and Taehyung found himself enveloped in a sudden wave of grief.

Unable to contain his emotions any longer, Taehyung threw his arms around Jungkook in a tight embrace, his sobs coming out in loud, wrenching cries. "Why are you doing this?" Taehyung choked out between his tears. "It's only going to hurt in the future."

Jungkook held him close, his voice filled with a tender resolve. "I don't know what the future holds," he said softly, "but I just want to spend every moment I can with you now."

The two stood there, locked in an embrace, as the world around them seemed to fade away. In that moment, all that mattered was the present, and the unspoken promise to cherish whatever time they had left together.